USA > New York > Herkimer County > History of Herkimer county, New York > Part 47
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Addison Brill
485
BIOGRAPHICAL.
and confidence of the whole community. As a judge he was upright, impartial and fearless. His term of service extended to within a few years of his death, which took place October 11, 1887. Judge Prescott married first Pamelia C. Allen, of Mohawk ; she died in 1857, and he married in 1864 Mrs. Martha H. Dygert. By the first wife he had one son, Charles W., and a daughter, Zinnia Ruth, by the second wife.
ADDISON BRILL.
The ancestry of Addison Brill is traced back to his grandfather, who was David I. Brill, a native of Dutchess county, N. Y., and who died in 1837. Among his children was David Brill, who was born January 2, 1796, in Beekman, Dutchess county. He married Hannah Pearsall, daughter of Joseph Pearsall, of Pleasant Valley, N. Y. David Brill was by trade a tanner and currier and shoemaker, which occupation he followed in his early life; but later he engaged in farming, lumbering and mercantile pursuits. In 1831 he removed to North Western, Oneida county, N. Y., where most of his active life was passed, and where he died on the 21st of April, 1880, in the enjoyment of the respect of the community where he lived. He was the father of eight children, as fol- lows: David Tompkins born December 5, 1819, died December 18, 1840, a farmer by occupation. Elizabeth, born July 29, 1821. married Ezra Clark of North Western in February, 1840, and still living. Delia Melissa, horn August 19, 1823, and died April 6, 1866. John, born September 16, 1825, married Cynthia Tibbetts August 30, 1849, and died May 20, 1886; he was a farmer and later in life a merchant. Permelia M., born February 18, 1828, married Nathaniel D. Bronson, of North Western, in 1851, and living. Addison, the subject, born in Saratoga county, N. Y., February 16, 1831. Augustus H. and Mary Augusta, twins, born December 1. 1836. Angustus H. married Mary D. Baker in October, 1876, and is now living, and is engaged in hardware husi- ness at Oxford, N. Y. Mary Angusta is unmarried and lives at North Western.
Addison Brill's early life was pleasantly and profitably surrounded. Reared in a Christian home, he early imbibed the principles which have safely guided him through life, and was also fortunate in having opportunity to secure a good practical educa . tion. After the usual period in the district schools, he attended three terms at the Cazenovia Seminary, where his industry and a remarkably retentive memory enabled him to store his mind with an excellent knowledge of the branches tanght. Leaving school finally at twenty years of age, he entered his father's store (where he had already served for a time), and remained until he reached his majority, in the capacity of clerk. On the 13th of April, 1852, he became a partner with his father and brother-in-law, Nathaniel D. Bronson, in general merchandising, which was continued until 1865, when he removed to Ilion and took up his permanent residence. Here he engaged in the wholesale grocery and provision business, in connection with and as member of the firm of Edson Delano & Company, and continued it with success five years to 1870. In April, 1871, he formed a partnership with A. N. Russell (see
62
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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
sketch of Mr. Russell herein), in the lumber and mill business. This partnership continued with mutual satisfaction and pronounced success nearly ten years, when in 1880 Mr. Brill withdrew ; and in 1882 established the Remington Sewing Machine Agency. Mr. Brill was secretary and treasurer, and had the management of this organization and its immediate and signal sneress reflected credit upon his business capacity and executive ability. In 1886 ocenrred the great failure of the Remington industry when the enormous business, with its several branches and its endless coni- plications and details, was passed into the hands of receivers. Mr. Brill was appointed one of the receivers of the estate, in association with Mr. Russell, his former part- ner. An account of the manner in which the great interests were handled and pro- tected by the receivers, so that the creditors might get the greatest possible benefit, has been given in the history of the village of Ilion, in earlier pages of this work, and need not be repeated in detail here. Let it suffice to say that the affairs of the corporation were conducted by the receivers until 1892, when all of the vast interests had been closed out in such a manner as to give a good measure of satisfaction to all who were concerned.
In politics Mr. Brill is a Democrat, but not in any sense a partisan, his liberality leading him at times to vote for candidates of the opposing party, who seemed to him to be worthy of support. He"never sought office and lives in a county where such a course would ordinarily be a waste of time; but he was elected supervisor in the face of these conditions and served in 1886-87. In the board his habitual straightforward business methods and his belief that public affairs should receive the same attention, and the same treatment given to one's personal business, led him to advise an investi- gation of the bills and charges of the county clerk, which seemed to him to be exor- bitant. Although he did not succeed fully in bringing about the reforms that he desired, owing to the fact that too many of his associates, if not interested in the out- come, from improper methods of transacting public business, were in sympathy with those who were; yet partial restitution for unlawful and excessive charges was secured.
The final developments from that first resolution for investigation have only recently ( 1802) been reached through the courts, and the details leading up to them would re- quire many pages for explanation, But it may be said thousands of dollars have been saved to the county, and new methods instituted, which if followed will be of large advantage in the future.
Mr. Brill was made director of the Frankfort and llion street railway at its organiza- tion and held the office for a uminber of years ; also of the Ilion Manufacturing Com- pany, of which he acted as treasurer during the most of its existence. He is a mem- ber and active worker in the Methodist church, and has been honored in that connec- tion by election as district representative for many years, and also as lay delegate to the General Conference, a position of honor in the church. He has been a steward in the local church since 1868. Mr. Brill is an ardent temperance man, but his efforts for the diminution of the evils resulting from drink are conducted upon Christian lines, which embody the desire to lift the unfortunate out of their hondage.
From the foregoing it will not be difficult to form a conception of the principal char- acteristics of Mr. Brill. His conscience is the dictator of his rules of living, and his
487
BIOGRAPHICAL.
career was founded upon a basis of integrity. With great capacity for labor, physical and mental, sound judgment, sagacious foresight, and executive ability, he has been able to command success and at the same time so order his living as to inspire confi- dence and respect in his fellows. He is public spirited, aids liberally all good works, and endeavors to realize the best ideas of good citizenship.
Mr. Brill married on May 5, 1858, Mary Comstock, daughter of the late Arnon Comstock, of North Western, a man of prominence in that community, and at one time county judge. Mr. and Mrs. Brill have one son, Charles Comstock, born at North Western, N. Y., January 1, 1862, who, after preparatory studies at the Ilion Academy, graduated from Syracuse University in 1885, and later spent one year in a post graduate course at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. He is now superintendent of Norwich University, at Northfield, Vt. He married October 29. 1889. Carrie Hoefler, daughter of John Hoefler, of Ilion. N. Y. They have a daugh- ter, Marion Elizabeth, born at Ilion, N. Y., March 17, 1892.
ALBERT NEWTON RUSSELL
Was born on a farm in Kirkland, Oneida county, N. Y., March 17, 1826.
His ancestors on his father's side emigrated to what was then called Whitestown, from Guilford, Conn., and were of English descent. Simeon Hatch, his grandfather on his mother's side, was of Scotch descent and was one of the early settlers of what is now New Hartford, emigrating there from Wethersfield, Conn.
When nine years old his father, Samuel Baldwin Russell, sold his farm and removed to Sherburne, Chenango county, where he died, leaving three children, Albert Newton being the youngest, about eleven years of age.
Returning to New Hartford, his mother gave him such educational advantages as the schools in that vicinity afforded, and while attending the select school he paid his way by working nights, mornings and Saturdays, in a cabinet shop, where he acquired some practical knowledge of mechanics.
After leaving school he worked for a short time on a farm, then as clerk in a general store, later emigrating to Fairfax county, Virginia, for the benefit of his health.
After two years of farm life there, having regained his health, he obtained a position as foreman under the superintendent of capitol and public works in Washington, D. C. Later he returned to Virginia, where he soon after married Miss Mary, daughter of Wells Hatch, a former resident of Chenango county, N. Y., and settled as he then sup- posed permanently, having become owner of a steam saw-mill and lumbering business, which he operated, with farming and fruit growing in a small way as an auxiliary.
At the time of the breaking ont of the War of the Rebellion, Mr. Russell, who was a strong Union man, had no alternative but to take his family and seek safety in the North, as the position of an avowed Unior man was one of great peril. Under the cover of darkness he commenced his journey in a democrat wagon drawn by a single horse, and before proceeding far, luis vehicle was only one of a caravan of twenty-seven, filled with Union refugees.
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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
Arriving at Wellsville, Allegany county, where his brother resided, he obtained em- ployment in a sash and blind factory, beginning life anew among friends, and where it was safe to be a friend of the Union.
In October, 1861, Mr. Russell obtained employment in the armory of E. Remington & Sons at Ilion, where he soon moved his family and has since lived.
He was soon placed in a responsible position, having the general care of the plant, constructing some of the largest buildings and equipping them with engines, boilers, etc., also setting the many manchines used therein. He also had charge of the erection of the fine residence of Mr. Philo Remington.
In 1871 he, in company with Mr. A'ldison Brill, purchased the lumber business of C. F. Raymer in Ilion-Mr. Brill taking charge of the business, assisted by Mr. Russell's oldest son, Samuel T., who represented his father's interests, himself continuing in the employ of the Remingtons until 1877. He has continued in the lumber business till the present time, his son, Samuel, becoming a partner in 1878, under the firm name of Brill, Russell & Company, who carried on the business till 1880, when Mr. Russell and Samuel bought out Mr. Brill and continued the business as the firm of A. N. Russell & Son. In 1883 the younger son, George R., became a member of the firm, a branch yard being established at Frankfort, under his charge, Samuel T. managing the business at llion. Under the management of A. N. Russell & Sons, the business has expanded until it has become the most extensive in its line in Herkimer county, and one of the leading ones of the Mohawk Valley, embracing two retail yards with im- mense stocks of all varieties of lumber, and a large and admirably equipped planing- mill and sash, blind and door factory, employing a large force of workmen, supplying a large trade, not only local, but from the lower Hudson towns and those in New Jersey and Connecticut adjacent to New York city.
Since becoming a resident of Ihon, Mr. Russell has always tanen an active part in the enterprises projected for the development of local business, and among other move- ments the one to secure the location of the West Shore shops at Frankfort, to which he devoted all his energy, with other members of a committee appointed to solicit subscriptions for this fund, conducting negotiations with the railroad company, which resulted in establishing that extensive and valuable industry at that place.
He also took an active part in establishing the knitting mill and Coleman's carriage and wagon factory at lhon, designing and erecting the buildings for the use of these companies. Ile is secretary of the Coleman Company ; also one of the directors of the Ilion and Mohawk Gas and Electric Light Company.
In March, 1886, the corporation, E. Remington & Sons, became financially involved to such an extent as to make it necessary to place their affairs in the hands of re- ceivers, and Messrs. Russell and Addison Brill were appointed by the court to take the business in charge. This was a position of great responsibility and care, involving the settling of accounts aggregating millions of dollars, many of which had to be adjudi- cated in the courts, and the conducting of the manufacture of arms and sewing ma- chines for two years before the works were sold. After a lapse of six years they brought the extended htigation to a termination and made their final dividend to the creditors, and after the examination of their accounts by llon. A. M. Mills, who was appointed referee by the court, they received their discharge.
Seth Whichmund
489
BIOGRAPHICAL.
During his residence in Ilion, Mr. Russell has been a staunch Republican in politics, giving his party earnest and hearty support, and for seven years served as a member of the county committee of that party.
Mr. Russell has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Ilion since 1866 and of its board of stewards, and has been active in its work.
SETH M. RICHMOND.
The ancestors of Seth M. Richmond came from England and settled in Massachusetts, his father, Isaac Richmond, having been born near Boston. His mother was Salona Perry, of Norton, Mass. They had eight children, six of whom were sons, as follows : Isaac, now living at Fulton, Oswego County, N. Y., at the age of ninety years ; he was born at Augusta, Oneida county, N. Y., where all of the children were born, and where Isaac Richmond passed most of his life. Gardner, the next son, is deceased; Alvin, living in Little Falls at the age of eighty-six years, and a partner many years with his brother, Seth M., as described below ; Nathan P., deceased ; Parley, deceased ; Phoebe, married N. B. Cook, of Augusta, and living ; Anna M., married W. E. Walton, of Munnsville, N. Y., and living ; and Seth M., the subject of this sketch and a portrait, who was born at Augusta, on the 17th of May, 1818, between the birth of the two sis- ters mentioned.
The early years of Mr. Richmond's life were passed amid adverse surroundings, as was the case with most American boys of that period. His only opportunity for ob- taining an education was in the country district school, the winter terms being alter- nated with summer labor on his father's farm, and even this limited school attendance was closed when he was sixteen years old. But he was imbued with an active spirit of enterprise and ambition, and he struck out for himself as soon as he left school by teaching a small school in geography one winter. and then engaged as clerk at what is now called Knoxboro, N. Y., in the employ of John J. Knox, father of Jay Knox, later comptroller of the currency. After about a year in the store, Mr. Knox showed his confidence in his young employer by sending him to Little Falls with a stock of goods to sell, and as cashier and bookkeeper chiefly to the force of men working on the Erie canal enlargement, on which Mr. Knox had a large contract. This was in Mr. Richmond's eighteenth year aud the enterprise covered the period from 1837 to 1840 inclusive. At the end of that period Mr. Richmond joined in partnership with his brother Alvin and they bought the stock of goods of Mr. Knox and opened a store. In all of the various business undertakings in which Mr Richmond has since engaged, his brother has had a share, and their partnership has been unbroken and their relations thoroughly harmonious. The business in the store was promptly and largely extended and soon included coal, they being the first to bring anthracite coal to Little Falls, lumber, which they shipped in great quantities to Troy and Albany, flour, salt, etc. In some of these commodities, particularly coal, the firm has dealt ever since and at the present time they have the most extensive yards in the village. In 1842 the brothers erected a
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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
paper-mill on the site of the early mills of Wm. J. Pardee, Jater occupied by Paige & Priest, and began the manufacture of print and wrapping papers. On the 13th of July, 1853, the mill was destroyed by fire, causing a loss of $50,000, on which was insurance of only $3,000. They, however, immediately rebuilt the mill and carried it on suc- cessfully until 1860, when they sold the property, which now constitutes the foundry of M. Reddy & Sons. In the year 1850 the brothers took hold of the Morris Axe manufactory, and for a number of years they sold the product of the factory. In 1857 they joined with E. B. Waite in the erection of another paper-mill on the lower falls, which they conducted until 1888; the property is now in the hands of the Little Falls Paper Company. In 1877 Seth M. Richmond, in connection with his son-in- law, Charles King, took the knitting-mill formerly operated by Amos King, changed its character to a manufactory of fine woolen knit goods, and gave it the name of the Saxony Knitting Mill. Of this MI. King is the active manager. Mr. Richmond was one of the principal organizers of the Little Falls National Bank, in 1879, was chosen its president and has ever since held the office Under his administration this institu- tion has become one of the most prosperous in the Mohawk Valley, and now has a vol- ume of business approximating $400,000; it has paid a dividend of 7 per cent. from its organization. Mr. Richmond was largely instrumental in organizing the Little Falls Gaslight Company and for six years was its president.
The foregoing gives some indication of the very active business career of Mr. Rich- mond and of its long continuance ; it also shows that his natural business inclination is towards enterprises of broad proportions and involving large transactions and the employment of large capital. It is, perhaps, the prominent qualification as far as busi- ness capacity is concerned, that he is able to grasp a large undertaking, or more than one, and foresee the details of its successful manipulation from the beginning. This faculty has aided in giving him uniform success in all the enterprises in which he has been engaged. This success has, moreover, been built upon correet business principles and broad lines of integrity and fairness towards those with whom he has come in contact; he is, therefore, held in high respect by the community, the members of which have in many ways expressed their confidenee in him. In politics Mr. Rich- mond is a Republican and was formerly a Whig, casting lus first vote in 18-10 for William Henry Harrison. He has held the office of village trustee and was president several terms. In 1860 he was elected sheriff of the county, and in 1867 was chosen to represent the district in the Assembly. He held the office of trustee of the academy several years and was president of the Board of Education two or three years. During his official career the northern riots transpired. Mr. Richmond issued a proclamation enjoining all good citizens to stand by law and order. The result was salutary though harshly criticized by political opponents, yet in time Democrats and Republicans con- curred in his course. During the Rebellion he was president of the I'nion clubs of his town and received and forwarded from his house many of the sanitary supplies. In the mean time he went to the front and visited the soldiers at Fredericksburg and Ar- lington Heights, and while there was made the recipient of large sums of money from the soldiers for distribution among their families on his return home. His sclection for these various posts of honor and trust are expressive of the confidence felt by the pub-
:
Of King
Calvas King
491
BIOGRAPHICAL.
lic in his capacity and zeal in the cause of education and general advancement. And it is greatly to his credit that it may truthfully be stated that in every official capacity he has given to his duties the same watchful and intelligent care that he has bestowed upon his own business.
Mr. Richmond is a member of the Baptist society and bestows of his means to all the religious organizations of the village. His public spirit and desire for the pros- perity of his adopted home prompts him to ever-ready effort in all public affairs that tend to the advancement of the place. Though now far advanced in years, Mr. Rich- mond has still the clear mental qualities of his earlier manhood, and regularly gives his attention to the details of his various business connections and particularly to the bank of which he has so long been the presiding officer.
Mr. Richmond was married on the 13th of April, 1840, to Ursula F. Osborn, daugh- ter of Jacob Osborn, of Little Falls. Their children are: An infant son, deceased ; Kate F., married W. W. Whitman, and deceased; Clara died in infancy ; Saralı B., married Charles King and living in Little Falls.
AMOS KING - CHARLES KING.
Among the early settlers of Greene county, N. Y., was the family of the late Hon. Perkins King. His children were Amos, Charles, Lucy, Harriet and Mary. His wife was Miss Jackson, daughter of General Jackson. who fought at Bunker Hill. Perkins King was conspicuous in Republican politics and was member of Assembly in 1826-27, when Dewitt Clinton was governor. and member of Congress in 1829-30. Amos King was the elder son of Perkins King, and was born in Freehold, Greene county, N. Y., January 5, 1817. He received the advantages of a common school education and in- herited from his parents intellectual qualities that contributed to his later advancement in his life work. After leaving school he began the operation of a carding-mill at Free- hold, which he continued until the mill was burned. Mr. King then went to Water- town, N. Y., and engaged in the same business. This was in 1853. Misfortune fol- lowed him, and the mill in that city also burned. He then moved to Norwich, Conn., where he also carried on a similar business. In 1872 he located permanently in Little Falls and began the manufacture of woolen cloths, in which he had so long been en- gaged. Four years later he changed the character of his manufacfare and founded the Saxony Knitting Company, associating with himself in partnership his son Charles. Under their management this became one of the most prosperous establishments of the kind in the State, and it was continued until the death of Mr. King on the 26th of Sep- tember, 1891. He was married in 1843 to Amanda Pratt, daughter of Israel Pratt of Greene county. Their children were : Charles King. now of Little Falls, and Mrs. W. A. Benedict of Newton Centre, Mass.
In his long business career Mr. King possessed the confidence and esteem not only of those with whom he was intimately associated, but also of every community in which he lived. His judgment and strong good sense gave weight and influence to all his conclusions, and his advice and counsel were always prized by those who were so for-
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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
tunate as to obtain them. The characteristic which will be best remembered so long as any of those who knew him shall survive, which gave to his character its greatest strength, to his influence its greatest usefulness, to his memory its sweetest incense, was his earnest, devoted, consistent Christian life, exemplified in all his business, in all the closer relations of family and intimate friends, in all the more public offices of church and social associations. For many years a member and elder in the Presbyterian church, he was active in efforts to promote its growth, and a leader in its good works. He for many years filled the position of Sunday-school superintendent, in which he was able to accomplish much good that will live long after him. In politics Mr. King was a Republican, but his tastes and ambition led him wholly into business channels, and he never accepted public office of any kind.
One who knew him well wrote at the time of his death as follows: " In his death the community loses one of her oldest and best known knit goods manufacturers, who for the past twenty years has been identified with the business interests of Little Falls, and contributed greatly to the growth and prosperty of the town. An active, efficient business man, a patriotic citizen and an earnest Christian has closed his carthly career and gone to his earthly reward, sincerely mourned by an exceptionally wide circle of friends." The session of the Presbyterian church met and adopted a series of eulogistic resolutions upon the character and work of their member.
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